Sunday is the 4th annual Charlie Awards at the Pantages Theatre, where food industry pros are honored by their peers in formal, ceremonial, celebratory style. Some sneak peeks for this year's festivities include chef Steven Brown of Tilia and a band of mates literally banging on pots and pans, and conceivably, other instruments too.

According to Rick Nelson of the Star Tribune, Brown says Sue Zelickson, mastermind of the awards, thought he was a musician. "I love Sue Zelickson, and if she asks me to do something, I say 'Yes,'" said Brown. "She thought I was a musician, but I'm not. But there are so many people who work in restaurants who are involved in music, so we put out an open call."

Should be interesting. And if that ear candy doesn't, um, pan out, attendees will be treated to an afterparty at the IDS Crystal Court with the more traditional sort of chef contributions.

Update: The winning entry was from Lucia's -- a Dandelion honey panna cotta with honey florentine. Gigi's came in 2nd place and Restaurant Alma in 3rd. The prize for bee-ting the competition? The Beez Kneez will name a hive in Longfellow Gardens after the longtime uptown restaurant.

While the bees are feasting on dandelion nectar, we'll be sampling treats made from their dandelion honey, at the first Dandelion Honey Pastry Chef Challenge.

Chefs from all over the Twin Cities are set to compete in the event presented by the Beez Kneez on Thursday, April 10 at the Nicollet Island Pavillion. To top it all off, the night will be emceed by none other than R.T. Rybak and his local foods-loving other half, Megan O'Hara.

On Saturday, the Germanic American Institute will host its annual black-tie wine tasting and dinner event. Wearing their finest, guests will stroll up to a bona fide mansion on Summit Avenue and eat like kings... or Kaisers.

This Monday evening some of the most talented culinary minds will be gathering at the Guthrie Theater to raise money and awareness about childhood hunger. As these folks so often do, they will be bringing the fruits of their labor to share with ticket holders. While tickets are still available for purchase, the Hot Dish has scored two tickets for one lucky reader.

Each year a collective of the most talented chefs in the Twin Cities gather inside the Guthrie to serve up delicious bites of food in an effort to end childhood hunger. Led by honorary chef chair and James Beard Award winner Tim McKee, the event is always a hot ticket.

"I never imagined my apartment would go up in flames," Nicolas Hutchinson told City Pages. Who expects that? The Uptown resident was just one of many left to couch surf after a fire destroyed an apartment building and caused minor damage to nearby Dunn Brother's and Bruegger's Bagels. Tonight neighbors, family, and friends will gather at a nearby restaurant and try to help those displaced.

The event room was packed at Solera last night as some of the area's top chefs worked together to create a seven-course meal for ticket holders. Solera's chef Jorge Guzman worked with some of his local farm purveyors and chef friends, on what should have been most of their nights off, to put on the dazzling dinner. Tickets sold out for the event, which benefited the Youth Farm and Market Project, which teaches urban farming to city kids, They grow and sell their own produce and learn a number of invaluable lessons along the way.

The program provides locally grown produce to families in need by partnering with area CSA farms and growers, who deliver fruits and vegetables to EFN's food banks and on-site meal programs. Last year the Harvest program distributed over 61,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables from 18 Minnesota and Wisconsin farms to local food shelves.

Along with whiskey samples and beer pairings from sponsors 2 Gingers Whiskey and Finnegan's beer, tonight's multi-course Farm Fresh Feast will feature local CSA-provided produce in imaginative preparations from Brian Hauke, head chef at the Red Stag.

Eat dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings on Wednesday, June 1, and a portion of your bill will go to help the victims of the north Minneapolis tornado.

The local company announced that it will donate 10 percent of money spent on food and nonalcoholic drinks at its Crystal, Roseville, and U of M locations to the Salvation Army. The deal is on from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. But you have to let your server know.

"In order for meals to count for the fundraiser, customers must mention they are dining to support tornado survivors," says a press release from the company.